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The City Traffic Management Office (CTMO) on Monday defended the positioning of the controversial traffic lights in Barangay San Pedro and Manalo Street.
Engr. Jonathan Magay, program manager of CTMO, said during the question hour Monday at the City Council he can attest to an improved traffic flow of the city roads because of these traffic lights.
“Actually gumagalaw po kami sa City Traffic Management Office hindi po ‘yong [sa paraang] diktador. Wala pong diktador sa traffic. Na-refer po ‘yan lahat pati sa aking mga traffic enforcers, supervisors, naandiyan sila lahat,” said Magay.
“Observations? Lumuwag po ba o hindi [ang trapiko] dahil sa traffic lights? Lumuwag po, malaki ang iniluwag. I just hope somebody would counter my statement, o siguro maski hindi na ako mag-hope talagang darating tayo doon may magre-reklamo. But again, sasabihin ko, ito personal, mas matagal po ako sa inyo sa kalye. Ako po naandiyan umaga, hapon, gabi sa kalye,” added Magay.
He said it is hurtful to them at CTMO to receive negative feedbacks from the public, while they are only doing their job to ease traffic congestion and ensure public road safety.
Magay even mentioned a statement from the public, which he heard, questioning them why roads that already have traffic lights still need traffic enforcers.
“Marami na pong questions, ‘May traffic light na may traffic enforcer pa.’ So what? Ano po ang question doon? Ano ang masama doon?” said Magay.
Magay stated these to answer Councilor Nesario Awat’s question on whether they have properly positioned these controversial traffic lights in Barangays Manalo and San Pedro.
“Gusto ko rin pong itanong ‘yong mayroong kinalaman dito sa ating Q and A, ito ‘yong ating traffic lights. Ayon po sa mga kuwento, totoo ba o hindi ay ‘yong inyo raw nilagay na mga traffic lights ay hindi gaanong nakabubuti? Puwede bang bigyan niyo kami ngayon ng latest development in terms of ano ‘yong reaction o ano ‘yong sa tingin ninyo kung ito ba ay ipagpapatuloy o dapat ba itong ilipat,” said Awat.
CTMO representatives, headed by Magay, were called at the plenary’s question hour for the status of traffic lights and one way streets within the city’s poblacion.
Magay in his response to Councilor Peter Maristela’s concern on the sequence and timing of each city traffic light also said they are about to work on its improvements right after this holiday season.
He said a group of consultants will arrive in the city after Christmas to work on its proper adjustments.
